THE British government’s controversial de facto Troubles-related amnesty proposals have been a subject of tension in recent months, especially for those who have not yet received justice for the killing of their loved ones during The Troubles.

One of those who attended last week’s ‘Standing by and for Justice – The UDR family’ event in Clogher was former UDR Greenfinch, Dianne Woods, which she joined in 1973.

Speaking of the event, Ms. Woods said: “It was very important for the UDR family and survivors to come together.”

Ms. Woods is the niece of UDR Private Tommy Bullock, and Mrs. Emily Bullock, who were both shot and murdered in their home by the IRA near the Border at Aghalane on September 21, 1972.

Ms. Woods was 20 at the time of their death. Speaking to The Impartial Reporter, she recalled the pair as “two extremely decent, law-abiding, innocent people who were the salt of the earth”.

Recalling their welcoming nature, she said: “Even if the postman came, he was brought in for tea. They were very quiet and inoffensive people. I had went to them to stay sometimes during the summer holidays, and have nice memories of my uncle and aunt.”

 

Speaking about the British government’s amnesty proposals, Ms. Woods described her feelings about the proposal as “anger, despair and pure disgust”.

She said: “It was shocking enough for relatives of those murdered and those injured when it came to light that the British government had dished out Queen’s pardons and letters of comfort to terrorists, but to add insult to injury, they are about to add more pain by imposing this amnesty.

“It feels to me that we have been thrown under the bus.

“My family – along with so many others – have been denied truth and justice. It is going to be an unconditional, blanket amnesty.”

Speaking about the lack of justice for her aunt and uncle, Ms. Woods said: “What grieves me so much is that no one has ever been brought to justice.

“There were seven in my mother’s family [a sister of Mr. Bullock], and every one of them has passed away. I lived in hope that we would see justice in one of their times, and I won’t see it in my time.”

Mr. Bullock was a farmer and a part-time UDR member, said Ms. Woods said.

“It was just the two of them living in this quite remote area. My aunt always had this fear that the IRA, if they were going to target my uncle, that they would target him on the way up their lane. She used to lie on their landing waiting for him to come up the lane, with a flare beside her, watching for his car up the hill.”

Continuing, Ms. Woods said: “She used to say that if the IRA came for Tommy, it would be over her dead body, and that is exactly what happened.

“My uncle came in to watch the news on the TV; he would have kept a small gun beside him, under the cushion.

“A knock came to the door, and several gunmen were there, and they blasted her and stepped over her body, and then fired several shots at my uncle and left both of them dead.”

The IRA men made their escape across the Border into County Cavan. As they went across the Border, they blasted their horns and were cheering. A short time later, apparently a call was made to an abattoir, which said: “We have two more bullocks for you”, referring to the murdered couple’s surname.

Ms. Woods added: “I loved every minute I served on the UDR, but due to family circumstances and work commitments, I had to reluctantly give it up after a number of years.”

Speaking about the impact of the proposed amnesty for members of the security forces, Ms. Woods said: “As the name ‘Ulster Defence Regiment’ suggests, UDR soldiers put on their uniform to defend their country from terrorism, along with the British Army and the RUC.

“As a result of this amnesty, they will be equated with terrorists. I just feel it is obscene – as far as I am concerned, the vast majority of the security forces acted within the law, and the amnesty is a one-way ticket for terrorists to escape the law.”

Ms. Woods continued: “From when we were knee-high, we were always told you should never take the law into your own hands. This implies it is the state’s responsibility to investigate crimes, and now [the British government] want to shirk the responsibility.”

Ms Woods revealed she had fears for the future as a result of the amnesty proposals, and added: “If the due process of the law isn’t applied, I fear some people may take the law into their own hands.”